CRISPR gene-edited crops in 2026: overview
CRISPR gene-edited crops are plants whose genomes have been deliberately altered with CRISPR-based systems. Researchers use them to study gene function and develop traits such as disease resistance, improved nutrition and stress resilience. Unlike conventional breeding, editing can target specific genetic sequences; turning a useful edit into a reliable crop still depends on transformation, regeneration, field performance and regulation. Delivery and regeneration remain practical bottlenecks, especially in crops that are difficult to transform.
Recent work is extending both the editing toolkit and its crop targets. In October 2026, researchers reported multiplex CRISPR/Cas12a editing of yield-related genes in rice, while a separate study used CRISPR-Combo to address regeneration barriers in perennial plants. In September 2026, adenine base editing produced transgene-free herbicide-resistant sorghum, and researchers reported soybean with higher oleic acid and reduced beany flavor. The field is moving beyond simple knockouts toward precise edits, multiple-trait changes and improved delivery, while complex crop genomes make reliable outcomes harder to predict.
- 1Research outpaces patents: Publications grew 39% in the last year while patent activity fell 50%, pointing to expanding research alongside a slower patenting period.
- 2Delivery gains traction: DNA-free delivery activity rose 44.7% and prime editing activity rose 87.9%, reflecting efforts to improve editing options and avoid stable transgene integration.
- 3Traits are broadening: Recent work spans herbicide-resistant sorghum, higher-oleic soybean and yield-related rice traits, alongside continuing efforts on crop resilience and nutrition.
Top organizations working on CRISPR gene-edited crops
Ranked by Linknovate activity score · last 24 monthsThe activity score adds up the relevance of every patent, publication, grant and news item linking an organization to CRISPR gene-edited crops. Showing 7 of 987 organizations.
| # | Organization | Approach | Signals (24 mo) | Momentum | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Nanjing Agricultural University
Research · China |
Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | PAT 2 · PUB 53 NEWS 250 |
-28% | Recently, researchers established a PAM-relaxed LbCas12a editing tool for plants. The university also uses CRISPR-Cas9 to study and improve traits in crops including wheat and rice. |
| 2 | 
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences
Research · China |
Base editing | PUB 140 · NEWS 41 | +10% | Recently, researchers used adenine base editing to modify the sorghum SbALS gene, producing transgene-free plants with herbicide resistance. The academy also develops genome-editing methods for crops such as oat and oilseed rape. |
| 3 | 
Huazhong Agricultural University
Research · China |
Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | PAT 1 · PUB 51 NEWS 36 |
-24% | Researchers at the university use CRISPR tools to investigate and modify crop traits, including multiplex editing in cotton and gene editing related to tomato development and stress resilience. |
| 4 | 
Chinese Academy of Sciences CAS
Research · China |
Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | PUB 56 · NEWS 24 | -49% | Recently, researchers developed a compact, multiplex plant-editing strategy guided by diverse tRNAs and AI-assisted mining. The academy also applies CRISPR mutagenesis to crops and other plants. |
| 5 | 
ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute
Research · India |
Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | PUB 50 · NEWS 10 | +61% | The institute applies CRISPR-Cas9 to wheat and rice, including multiplex targeting of wheat amylase/trypsin inhibitor genes and gene sets involved in grain development. |
| 6 | 
Zhejiang University
Research · China |
Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | PAT 1 · PUB 37 NEWS 35 |
+9% | Researchers at the university use CRISPR-Cas9 to modify crop traits, including rice yield and grain quality. Their work includes structural changes to OsDREB1C associated with a reported yield increase exceeding 20%. |
| 7 | 
China Agricultural University
Research · China |
DNA-free delivery | PAT 3 · PUB 39 NEWS 16 |
+162% | Recently, researchers developed a multiplex CRISPR-Cas12i3 system for soybean, editing 13 target sites to generate germplasm with high oleic acid content and reduced beany flavor. The university also studies virus-based delivery for heritable wheat editing. |
| 8 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 9 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
| 10 | ··Hidden organizationCompany | Approach | PAT 00 · PUB 00 GRANTS 0 · NEWS 00 | +00% | Available to registered users. |
Startups to watch and leading research centers
Startups to watch 5 total
Pairwise Plants LLCUnited StatesPairwise licensed its Fulcrum gene-editing platform to the International Rice Research Institute for work on climate-resilient, nutritious rice. The company also develops edited fruits and vegetables.
InariUnited StatesRecently, Inari disclosed plant gene-editing methods that create in-frame deletions to modulate protein activity and generate allelic variants. Its broader work combines plant breeding with computational and biological approaches.- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
- ··Hidden startupCountryAvailable to registered users, with funding and founding year.
Leading research institutions 861 total
- Nanjing Agricultural UniversityChinaRecently, researchers established a PAM-relaxed LbCas12a editing tool for plants. The university also uses CRISPR-Cas9 to study and improve traits in crops including wheat and rice.
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesChinaRecently, researchers used adenine base editing to modify the sorghum SbALS gene, producing transgene-free plants with herbicide resistance. The academy also develops genome-editing methods for crops such as oat and oilseed rape.
- Huazhong Agricultural UniversityChinaResearchers at the university use CRISPR tools to investigate and modify crop traits, including multiplex editing in cotton and gene editing related to tomato development and stress resilience.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
- ··Hidden research institutionCountryAvailable to registered users, with their key researchers.
Where CRISPR gene-edited crops innovation happens
Share of documents with at least one organization from each country.
Open the interactive map with all 987 organizationsMain technical approaches
Last 24 months| Approach | What it is | Documents | Leading organizations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nuclease-induced mutagenesis | Nucleases such as Cas9 create targeted DNA breaks that can disrupt genes; the approach is versatile but outcomes can vary and edits may be limited to small changes. | 344 |
Nanjing Agricultural University, University of Maryland College Park, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences |
| Base editing | Base editors change particular DNA letters without making a double-strand break; their precision is useful, but the edits they can make are chemically constrained. | 270 |
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University, Anhui Agricultural University |
| Prime editing | Prime editing uses a guide RNA and an editor enzyme to write targeted sequence changes; it can support more edit types, but efficiency and delivery remain challenges. | 95 |
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, While Crispr, CAS (The Cellular Agriculture Society) |
| Template-directed repair | This approach uses a DNA template to guide a specific change or insertion; it can make precise edits, but repair efficiency is a persistent limitation. | 109 |
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Genome |
| DNA-free delivery | DNA-free methods deliver editing components without a lasting DNA construct; they can avoid stable transgenes, but getting editors into cells and regenerating plants remains difficult. | 389 |
University of Florida, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Yunnan University |
Emerging trends
Last 12 months vs previous 36 monthsTerms whose frequency in the last 12 months grew the most compared with the previous 36 months.
Funding and investment
Recent funding rounds
The figures include 63 grants since 2020 totaling $33,799,902 and 13 recorded rounds totaling $673,473,693. The round list includes broadly tagged institutional awards, so the latter should not be read as crop-editing investment alone.
Patent landscape
Top patent holders · last 24 monthsRecent developments
Latest news, duplicates removed- Oct 2026Researchers investigating Fusarium wilt in the Brazilian banana cultivar 'Prata-Ana' have identified changes in the expression of the susceptibility gene MusaDMR6 during infection with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense…FP.com
- Oct 2026The long-term access to CRISPR-Cas9 will help improve crop longevity and feed growing populations in Africa and Asia In a key milestone for food security and climate-resilient agriculture, the International Crops…The Poultry Site
- Oct 2026The DNA Series: This is the last blog in the DNA Series (boo!), and we’re delving into the world of gene editing. For this series, the blog posts will be: Gene Editing Humans have been engineering organisms for decades…SAIFood
- Sep 2026Newswise — Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is the world’s third-largest fruit crop, and commercial cultivation relies heavily on F1 hybrids because of their superior yield, quality, and adaptability. Male-sterile lines…Newswise Feature Channel: Food Science
- Month 20XXHidden developmentAvailable to registered users with alerts enabled.
Frequently asked questions about CRISPR gene-edited crops
What companies are working on CRISPR gene-edited crops?
Named commercial players include Bayer AG, Syngenta, Monsanto Corporation, DuPont Pioneer, Inari and Pairwise Plants LLC. Their activity differs: patent records identify crop-editing filings for several established companies, while Pairwise develops edited produce and licensed its Fulcrum platform to the International Rice Research Institute in November 2025. ToolGen also announced an AI-guided breeding partnership in August 2026.
Which CRISPR gene-edited crops startups are the most promising in 2026?
Pairwise Plants LLC and Inari are the 2 startups identified in the organization data, but the available information does not establish a comparative ranking. Pairwise develops edited fruits and vegetables and licensed its Fulcrum platform for climate-resilient, nutritious rice. Inari’s disclosed methods create in-frame deletions to modulate protein activity and generate allelic variants.
Which universities and research centers lead CRISPR gene-edited crops research?
Nanjing Agricultural University leads the listed research organizations with 305 documents in the window, followed by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences with 181. Other active centers include Huazhong Agricultural University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences and ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute. Their work ranges from crop trait studies to editing tools and methods.
How much funding has CRISPR gene-edited crops received?
The funding indicators include 63 grants since 2020 totaling $33,799,902 and 13 recorded rounds totaling $673,473,693. These figures are not directly comparable: the round list includes broadly tagged institutional awards that may not fund crop editing specifically. Treat the round total as a broad indicator, not a confirmed total of investment into CRISPR crop development.
Who holds the most CRISPR gene-edited crops patents?
Monsanto Corporation leads the listed patent holders with 15 patents, followed by DuPont Pioneer with 9. Inari, Shandong Shunfeng Biotechnology Co. and Beijing Qi Biodesign Biotechnology Co Ltd each have 6 listed patents. These figures identify holders in the available patent data; they do not show the scope or commercial status of each patent.
Is CRISPR gene-edited crops patent activity growing?
No: patent activity fell 50% over the last 12 months compared with the previous 12 months, with 123 patents in the 24-month window. Publication activity moved in the opposite direction, rising 39% in the last year. The contrast suggests stronger recent research output than patenting, although it does not indicate how valuable or commercially important individual filings are.
What are the latest developments in CRISPR gene-edited crops?
Recent examples include multiplex CRISPR/Cas12a editing of yield-related genes in rice in October 2026 and transgene-free, herbicide-resistant sorghum produced by adenine base editing in September 2026. Researchers also reported high-oleic soybean with reduced beany flavor in September 2026. These results show activity across agronomic traits, crop composition and more precise editing methods.
What are the main approaches in CRISPR gene-edited crops and how do they differ?
The main approaches are nuclease-induced mutagenesis, base editing, prime editing, template-directed repair and DNA-free delivery. Nucleases commonly disrupt genes, while base and prime editors can make more specific sequence changes. Template-directed repair uses a DNA template for targeted changes; DNA-free delivery describes how editing components reach plant cells without a lasting DNA construct. Each faces trade-offs in editing scope, efficiency or delivery.
Which countries lead CRISPR gene-edited crops?
The United States leads with 5,023 documents, followed by China with 3,782. The United Kingdom and India are also active, with 1,724 and 1,664 documents respectively. These country figures describe document activity in the available data; they are not a direct measure of commercial adoption, field trials or regulatory approvals.
What are the applications of CRISPR gene-edited crops?
The main applications include disease and pest resistance, climate and stress resilience, yield and agronomic traits, nutrition and composition, and food quality and shelf life. Disease and pest resistance has 597 documents, while climate and stress resilience has 347. Recent examples include herbicide-resistant sorghum, higher-oleic soybean and rice editing focused on yield-related traits.